Sign



E. B. HAND ug. l, 1939.

SIGN

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Al. l, 1938 E. B. HAND Aug. I; 1939.

SIGN

Filed Aug. 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,167,&i8

@FEE

Application August 1,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to signs, more particularly to signs of the character wherein the indicia thereof are rendered visible at night by the lights of approaching vehicles or other lights playing thereon. Y

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a light-reflecting sign which is simple in construction and which can be economically manufactured.

Another object is to provide a light-reecting sign of the number type in which the numbers thereof are easily interchangeable and replaceable.

A further object is to provide a light-reflecting sign of new and improved construction wherein a standard frame and reflecting medium are so arranged that the indicia may be applied at will without the use of screws, bolts, etc.

With the above and other objects in view, the 20 present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to he hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawings, which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 1 is a front View of the sign, showing the indicia in place;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing the manner in which the reflecting medium and indicia are mounted within the frame;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, showing the stop means located at one end of the frame;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1, showing the resilient stop means located at the other end of the frame;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Figure l, showing one method of mounting a supporting standard;

Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure l, of a modified construction wherein the frame halves are of cast metal, a portion of one of the frame halves being broken away to show the indicia in position in the other frame half;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are sections taken respectively on lines 1 1, 8 8 and 9 9 of Figure 6, Figure 8 being enlarged;

Figure 10 is a perspective View of an indicia plate of the reflecting type wherein a portion of the surface of the plate is blacked out to form the desired numeral or letter; and

Figure l1 is a fragmentary section corresponding to Figure 2 showing the indicia plates of Figure 10 in position between the frame halves.

1938, Serial No. 222,493

(Cl. L1z0-140) Although the sign of the present invention is capable of many different uses, it is particularly adaptable for use as a house number sign which can be located on'the tree lawn adjacent the street curb, whereby the numbers are, by reason 5' of the reflecting character of the sign, made to appear illuminated by the lights of approaching vehicles or by street lights near the sign.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in Which like numerals refer to like parts through- 10E out the several views, the sign comprises a frame portion A, a reflecting portion B, and indicia C. The frame A is extremely simple in construction and is made of two stamped metal parts. Each part is in the form of an open rectangle having 15 a top and bottom il and i2, respectively, and ends i3 and lli, which are provided with a continuous depression or channel i5. The outer edge of the channel I5 in the top and bottom portions Il and l2, respectively, and in the end portion 20 I3, terminates in a narrow abutment for engagement with the corresponding flan the other frame part, as shown in the section, views. The inner edges of the portions ii, i3 and it of the two parts are spaced apart, shown at il in the cross sectional views. outer edges of the portions iii of the two parts are also spaced, as shown at i8 in Figure 4, and one of these portions I4 is provided with a reversely bent tongue I9, whichV terminates in a 30 transversely extending flange Zii. The inner edge of one of the portions i3 is also provided wit outwardly offset, transversely extending tongue 2l, as shown in Figure 3.

The two metal parts are welded togethe through the flanges I6, with the channels i facing each other.

In order to provide for mounting the sign, the flanges I6 of the bottom portions i2 may widened, as shown at 22 in Figure l, and formed 40 with opposed depressions 23 for reception of one end of a supporting rod or bar 2li, which adapted to be forced into the earth when the is to be used as a house number sign, iosa adjacent the curb. It is to be understood, l. wever, that the sign may be mounted in various other manners, as desired.

The reflecting portion B is in the form oi rectangular strip of a suitable reflecting acter, such as polished aluminum, or other metal capable of reflecting light, and in order to enhace its reiiecting properties it may be provided, if desired, with a series oi small protuberances or hemispherical surfaces.

The gures C, or other indicia, are individual thin FP1 orf..

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elements and are formed from sheet metal plates by cutting openings therethrough in the form of the particular numeral or letter desired, as shown.

The sign is assembled by distorting the tongue I9 and first sliding the reflecting portion through the space I8, and through the spaces in the upper and lower portions of the frame, and into space I1 at the end portion I3. Then, the indicia plates 25 are slid in their desired order into the frame in the same manner as the reflecting portion B.

As shown in the drawings, a set of indicia is provided for visibility from both sides of the sign. However, if desired, they may be employed on one side only, in which case a blank sheet of metal may be inserted in lieu of the one set of indicia.

After the plates 25 are inserted, the tongue i9 is bent back to its original position, so that the flange 20 blocks the opening I8 to prevent'the reflecting portion and the plates 25 from inadvertently slipping out of place. The sign may then be mounted upon the standard 24 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as by bolts or screws, or by frictional engagement.

In the assembled position, it will be noted that the edges of the reflecting portion and the indicia plates are confined within the channel 5, thereby presenting a neat appearing assembly.

One particular advantage of the sign of the present invention is that the merchandiser can carry a supply of frames and reflecting elements in stock which are of standard size and carry in stock a supply of the individual indicia plates, so that it is only necessary for the customer to select the .desired indicia plates, whether it be numbers or letters, and then assemble them in the desired order, as previously described.

If desired, the indicia plates themselves may be of the reflecting material and painted or blacked out except for the indicia thereof as shown in Figure 10, wherein the indicia plate 3U is of the desired light reflecting material, such as polished aluminum, the figure C thereof being formed by darkening or blacking out all of the surface except for the outline of the figure. In this case it may be desirable to employ a backing plate 3| for the indicia plates, as shown in Figure 11.

The sign described is of simple construction and is particularly adapted to be economically manufactured from sheet metal.

The two frame parts may, if desired, be formed of castings of suitable metal secured together by suitable means, such as, for example, bolts or screws. In this case, reflecting element and indicia elements may be mounted between the frame parts before securing of the same to- Vthe indicia plates and backing plate-3| shown in Figures 10 and 11, as the case may be. The supporting standard 24 is received by depressions 45a cast in the flanged portions 4|b of the frame halves E, the same as in Figures 1 and 5. In assembling the sign one set of the indicia plates is 4disposed in one frame half, next the reflecting B plate or backing plate 3|, as the case may be, is disposed on the set of indicia plates, there the other set of indicia plates is positioned on the reflecting plate or backing plate, and finally the other frame half is mounted in place. Before securing the assembly together, however, the supporting standard 24 is positioned within the recess formed by the depressions 4|a. 'I'he assembly is secured together by means of a screw 44a. which extends through an opening 44 in one frame half, through an opening 45 in the standard 24 and is threaded into the other frame half, as shown in Figure 9. It is obvious that a bolt may be used in place of the screw 44a.

As in the case of the sheet metal sign shown in Figure 1, it is desirable to provide stops within the channels 40 of the ends of the frame halves to bridge the gap or space 43 for preventing endwise movement of the indicia plates. These stops are shown at 46 in Figure 6.

It is to be understood that obvious variations may be made without departing from the spirit and substance of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sign comprising an open framework having a continuous channel therein, said framework having a slot at one end for access to the channel, and a plurality of individual light-refleeting indicia elements within said channel, said elements being removable through said slot and said framework including a distortable stop means for blocking off said slot to prevent inadvertent passage of said elements through said slot.

2. A sign comprising a pair of frame parts,

each part being in the form of an open frame and having a continuous depression therein, said parts being secured together, face to face, along three sides thereof, and with the depressions fa'cing each other to form a channel, the inner edges of said parts being spaced apart, the outer edges of the fourth side of said parts being spaced to provide a slot for access to said channel, and a plurality of light-reflecting indicia elements disposed within said channel between the edges of said parts, said indicia elements being removable through said slot.

3. A sign comprising a pair of metal frame parts, each part being in the form of an open frame and having a continuous depression therein, said parts being secured together, face to face, along three sides thereof, and with the depressions facing each other to form a channel, the inner edges of said parts being spaced apart, the outer edges of the fourth side of said parts being spaced to Iprovide a slot for access to said channel, and a plurality of light-reecting indicia elements disposed within said channel between the edges of said parts, said indicia elements being removable through said slot, the said fourth side of one of said parts having a distortable tongue-like portion extending into said channel to prevent inadvertent displacement of said indicia elements through said slot.

4. A sign comprising a pair of metal frame parts, each part being in the form of an open frame and having a continuous depression therein, said parts being secured together, face to face, along three sides thereof, and with the depressions facing each other to form a channel, the inner edges of said parts being spaced apart, the outer edges of the fourth side of said parts being spaced to provide a slot for access to said channel, a sheet of light-reflecting material disposed within said channel, and a plurality of plates having indicia openings therein disposed within said channel in face-to-face relation with said reflecting sheet, said sheet and plates being insertable and removable through said slot.

5. A sign comprising a pair of metal frame parts, each part being in the form of an open frame and having a continuous depression there in, said parts being secured together, face to face, along three sides thereof. and with the depressions facing each other to form a channel, the inner edges of said parts being spaced apart, the outer edges of the fourth sido of said part-s being spaced to provide a slot for access to said channel, a sheet of light-reflecting material disposed Within said channel, and a plurality of plates having indicia openings therein disposed Within said channel in face-to-face relation with opposite sides of said reflecting sheet, said sheet and plates being insertable and removable through said slot.

6. A sign comprising a pair of metal frame parts, each part being in the form of an open frame Work and having a continuous depression therein, each of said parts having complanar abutment flanges around the outer edges of three sides thereof, said parts being secured together with said anges in abutting engagement, and with the inner edges in spaced relation to provide a continuous channel, open at its inner periphery, the outer edges of the fourth side of said parts being spaced to provide a slot for access to said channel, and a plurality of indicia elements disposed Within said channel between said spaced inner edges, said elements being removable through said slot.

'7. A light reflecting sign comprising a pair of frame halves, each being in the form of an open frame and having inner and outer peripheral fianges dening a laterally opening channel, said outer peripheral flanges being disposed to engage each other and said inner peripheral flanges being oi lesser depth than said outer flanges to provide a continuous space opening into said channels, two sets or individual indicia plates of stencil forma tion confined Within said space and said outer flanges, the plates of one of said sets being in edge abutting engagement and abutting one of said inner flanges and the plates of the other of said sets being in edge abutting engagement and abutting the other of said inner flanges, an opaque light reflecting plate disposed between said sets of plates and confined Within said outer flanges for causing light reflection through said indicia plates, and means for securing said frame halves together.

EDWIN B. HAND. 

